Tue, Oct 14 2008
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Published August 02, 2008 11:47 pm - Rising diseases challenge to treat By Keith Purtell Phoenix Staff Writer Among three diseases that are on the rise in children — autism, obesity and asthma — the causes, as well as treatments, range from unknown to frustrating.
Scientists are continuing the search for the cause of the neurodevelopmental disease of autism. Obesity’s causes are well known but embedded in the American lifestyle and difficult to address. Pollution is seriously suspected as a cause of asthma. Marty Richerson, whose 9-year-old daughter Britney has autism, said she is infuriated by the lack of progress in the medical profession. “We shouldn’t have to fight the medical professionals too,” she said. “They don’t listen to parents, the money for research is not out there, and they don’t know more. It would help if parents could get a diagnosis before the child is 2.” Richerson also is disappointed in the way support may be cut off for research in the United States. She mentioned one study of the rise in autism where funding was cut off, and it took a Canadian team to pick up and carry on. But, she knows that her daughter’s condition is lifelong. “I’m not looking for a cause or a cure,” she said. “It’s my job now to get her the help she needs so that she can be whatever she can be in life.” There are concerted efforts to deal with obesity and asthma, which are medically better understood. Dr. Timothy Holder, Maternal and Family Practice Associates Inc., and pediatrician Dr. Mike Stratton both spoke about the struggle to deter obesity. “There is a big push in a lot of schools to get pop machines out, and to get high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods out,” Holder said. “Other problems are sedentary lifestyles, watching too much TV, and playing computer and video games, as well.” Stratton listed a variety of methods a family can use to deal with obesity: • Use things other than food or TV as a reward. • Eat family meals together. • Limit any type of electronic entertainment activity to two hours a day. • Keep the TV off during meal times. 
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